Improvement in grain-binders



BSheetsSh'ee't '1.

S. D. CARPENTER.

' GRAIN BINDER.

No. 85,210. Patented Dec. 2-2, 1868.

Mass: I v 03.99%.

N. PETERS. PYwlmLilhv-lgfiphir. Wilmington. B4 c 3 Sheets- Sheet 2.

, S. D. CARPENTER.

GRAIN BINDER; N0. 3 Patented "Dec. .22, 1868. v

u. PETERS. Mal-MIMI. wan-m u a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

s. D. CARPENTER, or MADISON, wrsoonsin.

IMPROVEMENT m GRAIN-BINDERS.

Spedfication forming part of Letters Patent No. 85,210, dated December22, 1868.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, S. D. CARPENTER, ofMadison, in the county of Dane and State of Wisconsin, have. inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Combined Harvesting and BindingMachines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, making part of thisspecification, and to the letters'of reference marked thereon, like letters indicating like parts wherever theyoccur.

To enable others skilled in the art to con strnct and use my invention,I will proceed to describe it. y

My invention relates to machines for harvesting grain; and consists incertain improvements for conveying the grain from theplatform to thebinding mec anism, there compressing it into a bundle, and binding'thesame automatically; also, in providing means for catching and saving thegrain that maybe shelled in the process of conveying and binding it, allas hereinafter more fully described.

Figured is a rear elevation of my improved machine. Fig. 2'is a top-planview, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section 'taken on the linearm of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of a portiondetached and reversed.

I construct the frame A and the platform 0 in any suitable manner, andmount them on a single driving-wheel, B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3,there being awheel, B,at the outer edge of the platform for supportingit at that end. The wheel B is provided on one face with a circle ofbevel-gear teeth, from which motion is imparted to the cutting,conveying, and binding mechanism, through the medium of a shaft, E, Fig.1, which has mounted on it, at the proper position, abevel-gear wheel,en gaging with the teeth E, this shaft carrying a bevel-gear, 1 at itsend. Near the back of the machine, andjust inside or in front of which,is also secured a pulley, E, which imparts motion to the belt 0, thelatter, in turn, giving motion to the conveying-aprons, as shown in Fig.1, and as hereinafter more fully explained. About the center of the mainframe A is mounted a shaft, T, Figs. 1 and 3, which ex- Q, which extendsabout half-way across, soas to bring the binder-arm and band at thecenter of the bundles. A shaft, 1, is so located that a bevel gear, 1",on one end engages with a bevel-gear, 1 near the end of shaftE, and asimilar gear at the opposite end of shaft 1 engages with a wheel, 1t, onshaft D,/ and thus imparts motion to the latter. On this same shaft '1,by the side of wheel It, is located a. spur-gear wheel, Y, which engageswith a larger wheel, Z, on shaft Q, and thus imparts motion to thelatter; the wheelsY and It being arranged to turn loosely on the shaft1, except when locked by a pawl, a, to a-hub, b,- as shown in Fig. 1,the wheels R and Y being either fastened together, or made in one piece,as preferred. The sickle is also operated from the shaft E by means ofpltmen P, connecting at one end to a crank in said shaft, and at theopposite end to an arm, L, secured to a rock-shaft. 0 from which, at theopposite end, an arm, P extends downward, and connects by a rod, b, withthe sickle, as represented in Figs. 2 and 3. Thus it will be seen thatall parts of the. mechanism is driven by the wheel B.

For the purpose of conveying the cut grain from the platform to thebinder, which is 10- cated'at the outer part of the frame A, I arrangeon the platform an endless apron, I which extends nearly across it, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3; this apron passing around roilers at each end,and having secured upon it, at intervals of about four inches, slats c,from the face of which a series of spikes or teeth project, there beinga series of rods or. bars, (1,

arranged above the apron, in such a manner as to siipport the grain andpermit the spikes or teeth to project up between them, and thus takehold of the grain and carry it along as the apron moves, in thedirection indicated by the arrow, Figs. 2 and 3, the rods (1 beingcurved eccentrically to the roller at the end where the grain isdelivered, so as to carry the grain beyond the reach of the spikes inthe slats, and thereby prevent the spikes from drawing the grain aroundunder the apron, as shownin Fig. 3. Motion is imparted toihis apron I bya belt, o, as represented in Fig.

Extending from the platform to the top of frame A are two endlessaprons, G and H, the former extending up over a roller near the top ofthe frame, and from thence down-around another roller, f, which islocated just above a serics'ofcurved bars, V, which serve as a cradle orpocket to receive and hold the grain as it is delivered by the apron G,as shown in Fig. 3. At its lower end this apron G has its under layerpassing undera roller, f and from thence extends along the platformaround another roller, f close by the end of the apron I on theplatform, for the purpose of readily reccivin g the grain from thelatter. The apron His placed directly in front of and parallel with themain portion of the apron G, and so close to it as to bring the'two sonearly in contact as to hold the grain securely between them, andthus-insure its being carried up by them. In order to prevent the grainfrom slipping between these aprons and to keep it straight and in goodorder for binding, 1 secure upon the face of each apron a series ofslats, f the slats being arranged transversely across the aprons, asrepresented in Figs. 2 and 3.

For the purpose of rendering them more efficient, I arm the slats on theapron H with a series of projections in the form of staples, the roundedsurfaces of which prevent their catching or tearing the adjoining apronG, and at the same time prevent their retaining a hold upon any of thegrain as it is delivered at the top and passes down on-the rear into thecradle.

At the top of the frame A, and in rear of the point where the aprons Gand H deliver the grain, I locate a series of curved rods, K, whichserve as a guard to prevent the grain from being thrown backward, andcausing it to pass down upon the cradle or bars V, as shown in Figs. 1and 3. Upon the extreme top of the frame I locate also a shaft, J, towhich is attacheda series of curved arms or rods, J ,which serves as acut-ofl' to stop the flow of the grain into the cradle while thequantity therein is being removed by the rake-teeth U, as hereinafterexplained. The shaft J has an arm, g, which is'connccted by a rod, 9 toa lever, g the rear end of which rests upon and is actuated by a cam, 9mounted on the binder-shaft Q, as shown in Fig. 1, this cam 9 being ofsuch a form, and so located on the shaft, as to raise the cut-oil orrods J, andhold them up about one-half of the time, long enough topermita sufficient quantity of grain to pass down into the cradle toform a. bundle of the required size.

Directly in rear of the rear portion of apron G is placed a shaft havinga series of rollers, W, secured thereon at proper intervals, to permitthe teeth of rake U to pass between them, the shaft being suspended, byarms h, loosely from thejournals of the pulley h, over which the upperportion of apron G passes, as shown in .Fig. 3, the rollers W thusswinging loosely, and resting against the rear face of apron G,

and serving to-assist in separating and con-- veying the grain down intothe cradle, and prevent the' straw from becoming disarranged or crossed,and at the same time preventing it from being thrown upon the bindingmechanism. The rollers W are driven by a crossbelt from roller h, asshown in Fig. 3.

Upon the shaft T, which is located about midway between the rear end ofapron G and the binder-shaft Q, I secure a set of arms, U, which thusform a revolving rake, the function of which is to'sweep the grain fromthe cradle around under the shaft T, and up to the position indicated inFig. 3, where it is held while the wire is passed around it. In order tocoinpress the grain into a bundle, the central bars V of the cradle are.raised somewhat above the others, as shown in Fig. 3; and above thebundle is located a compressor, N, which consists of two or more bentrods, pivoted to the end of a curved frame, M, and held down by aspringarm or pawl, i, which is released at the proper time by the shuttlearm,as will be hereinafter explained.

The wire, which is fed from a spool, L, is carried around the bundle(while the bundle is held between the teeth ll of the rotating rakeand'the compressor N) by means of a curved arm, 0, secured upon androtating with the shaft Q, as represented in Fig. 3. This binder-arm Ocarries at its outer end a shuttle,-

S, of peculiar construction, for twisting, cutting oti', and holding thewire, which shuttle, together with the spool L, will fornrthe sub jcctof a separate application for a patent, and therefore need not be hereinspecially de scribed.

The shaft Q, with the binder-arm, is constantly rcvolving,.while therake-shaft T re volves only at-intervals, remaining stationary in theposition shown in Fig. 3 one half of the time.- These relative motionsare produced by the following means As previously described, the wheelsR Y turn loosely upon the shaft T, except when locked thereto by meansof the pawl aand collar b, as shown in Fig. 1. As they are 'constantlyin motion, and gear into the wheel Z on shaft Q, it follows that thelatter has imparted -to it a continuous motion. 0n the wheel Z is a cam,l, which, when the wheel brings it around to the proper position,strikes against the free end of the lever-pawl a, and thereby diseugagesit from the notch iuthc collar b, which permits the wheels R Y to turnloosely on the shaft T, while the latter remains stationary, thusholding the teeth U in the position shown in Fig.3, and where theyremain, as previously stated, while the wire is wound around the bundle,and until the wheels R Y have made one revolution, at which time thewheel Z, which is double the diam eter'of the others, will have made ahalf-rev0lution, thus carrying the cam Z over to the opposite side,

which leaves the pawl afree to engage with p the collar b again, andthereby start the rake again. As represented in Fig. 1, there isaspring-arm, c, stand-ing vertically by the side of collar 1), with anotch or recess in its face, in which a pin, a, on the collar engageswhen the pawl a is released, this spring-arm ih'ns serving to hold therake in the position shown in Fig. 3, while the bundle rests thereon.

The binder-a'rm'O is secured rigidly to the shaft Q, and, as shown inFig. 4, has a short 'arm,u, prqiecting'from the opposite side of theshaft; and to this short arm is pivoted, at a, another curved arm, 1, tothe side of which, at its rear end, is secured a pin, 1, which works ina cam-groove in the adjoining face of a stationary plate, 13 2 Near thefront end of the bindcr arm 0., and alongside of the shuttle S', isattached a tube, 1 and in this tube is a flexible rod, having its upperend jointed to the armP, while its other endis bent so as to protrudethrough a slot in th'e'side of the tube 1?, where it terminates in apointed hook, it,

i which has a shoulder on its upper and outward face. With these partsthus constructed and arranged, it follows that when the shaft Q hasrevolved far enough to bring the shuttle S around opposite the rollersv, where the wire enters the frame M, and at which time the shuttle willtake hold'npon the wire again, after havingcarried its end around thebundle, the offset in the cam-groove, operating on the short end of armP through the medium of pin 1, will cause its opposite end to rccedefrom arm 0,.thereby drawing up the hook 1, over the shoulder of whichthe wire will have slipped, and thus draw the loose portion of the wireup into the slot in the shuttle to the center of the twister Z, where itis held while being twisted, as wiil be more fully explained in myspecification relating to the shuttle proper, to be hereafter filed.

A semicircular frame, M, is located directly over the shaft Q, in such aposition as that when the binder-arm O revolves, the shuttle S willtravel in this frame, whieh is recessed for that purpose, it formingabout one-half of the circle described by the shuttle in its revolution,as represented in Fig. 4. The shuttle carries within it a circular,twisting, and cutting device, Z, which has on its periphery teeth thatprotrude through openings on each side of the shuttle,- and on the innerface of the side of the frame M, next to the shaft Q, is arranged arack, m, by which the twister Z is made to rotate as the shuttle passesalong through that portion of the frame or race M, the rack on being ofsuch a length as to give four revolutions to the twister.

As previously stated, the shaft Q extends only about half-way across theframe A, and the binder-arm O is secured upon its extreme end, directlyunder the frame or race M, to permit the wire to be carried past theendof shaft Q as it is wound around the bundle, and the end of arm 0 isbeveled to prevent the wire from being caught thereon, and insure itspassingo'h the free side of the arm 0 as the end of said arm passes bythe wire where it enters the race or frame M. The shuttle S is swiveledon the end of the binder-arm 0, so as to turn freely thereon, so that assoon as 'swingin g or pivoted arm, 8,

the shuttle leaves the race the tension of the wire from the spool pullsthe shuttle over, causing it to make a half-revolution, and therebyassist in bringing the wire on the free side of the binder-arm.

Underneath the binding apparatus 1 locate a. receptacle, F, for catchingand saving the heads and shelled grain, there-being an openingiu thebottom, closed by a slide, 7:, for removing it when necessary.

The pulleys 1, 2, 3, and 4 are loose pulleys, used simply to give to thebelt the proper direction and sutficient bearing on the other pulleys.One of these pulleys, 2, is hung on a which has a slot in it, throughwhich a set-screw passes, and by which the position of the arm and itspulley 2 may be adjusted, so as to tighten up the belt 0, as may benecessary.

Thespeed of the binding mechanism may be changed at any time by simplyreplacing the bevel-gear I by another of a different size, either largeror smaller, and then adjusting the gear-wheel l on the shaft 1 tocorrespond. When the grain is heavy or thick on the ground the speedwill need to be increased, and when light orthin the speed should bede-.creased-tlie speed of the sickle remainingthe same in each case. 7

It will be observed that the frame X of the binder is made separate, andattached to the frame A by means of slotted corner-pieces q at the top,and by slats e in its bottom piece,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, to permit the binder to be adjusted forwardor backward on the machine, so as to always bring the binder-arm andwire at the center of the bundle, whether the grain belong or short.

The shaft T has a bend" or crank at its center, opposite the point offrame or race M, as shown in Fig. 3, and also in dotted lines in Fig. 2,this bend being for the purpose of furnishihg room for the end of thebinder-arm with the shuttle to pass through, andv at the same timepermit the shafts '1 and Q to be brought nearer together, and therebyreduce the size of the wheels necessary to be used thereon;

The bindcearm, as it passes the rollers 'u,

where the wire enters the frame or race M,

(the loose part of the wire having been received by the hook t,) at thesame time releases the spring-arm i from its hold on the compressor N,thereby allowingthe latter to rise, as the bundle is pressed up againstit by the binder-arm, which,,carries the bundle up over the shaft Q, anddrops it out behind on the ground. The compressor N is also intended toprevent the straw from rising so as to force the wire too high to bereceived by the hook t, as the line of the wire should not go above aline drawn from center of shaft 2 to center between rollers 12 '0,before the hook t has received the loose end of the wire; and it mayalso serve to prevent the straw from getting into the race, where itwould interfere with the familiarwith this class of machines.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in a grain-cutting and binding machine, of thehorizontal apron I, with its guards or rods (1, the inclined aprons Gand H, the cut-oft'J', the revolving rake U,

. and the rotating binder-arm 0, all constructed aud arranged to operatesubstantially as and for the purpose herein described.

2. The slats f with the'staples, or equivalent devices, applied to theapron H, as shown and described.

3. The revolving rake, when arranged to move at stated intervals,substantially-as de scribed, for the purpose of sweeping the grain fromthe cradle, and holding it under the compressor while being bound. v I

4. A rotating binder-arm, constructed and arranged to operatesubstantially as described, for carrying the band around the bundle, andthen removing the bundle, as set forth.

5. The combination of the arm P, having the sliding hook tattached, andthe cam B,

when constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described, forthe purpose of drawing the wire to the center of the twister, to insurethe operation of the latter, as set forth.

6. The shuttle-race or frame M, provided with the rack m, when arrangedin relation to the binder-arm, substantially as described.

7. The receptacle F, located under the binding mechanism, for receivingand saving the grain, as herein described.

8. The compressor N, constructed and arranged to operate as and for thepurpose set forth.

9. The eut-ofl' consisting of the rock-shaft J, provided with the curvedarms J, arranged to be operated by means of the cam g on the.

binder-shaft Q, through the medium of the levers g rod 9 and arm g,substantially as described.

10. Theswinging-rollers W, arranged to operate in connection with theapron G, as set forth.

11. Changing the speed of the binder, independently of the cutting orcarrying mechanism, by means of gear-wheels l, of varyingsizes, appliedto the shaft E, as herein described.

12. The combination of the wheel Y, carry ing the pivoted pawl a, thenotched collar b, and wheel Z, with its cam I,when arranged to operateas and for the purpose set forth.

. S. D. CARPENTER.

Witnesses:

P. T. DODGE, L. HAILER.

